Sometimes being popular isn’t always the greatest, especially depending on the cause of the popularity. There’s no exception for artists, as there is almost always some sort of fighting and backlash. So, what are the good and bad consequences of being well-known and what effects come from it?
Something to consider is the swiftness of new artists arising and why they’ve arisen — specifically, women who are coming into the music industry or emerging from behind the scenes. Though some, such as Raye and Halle Bailey, are working on their craft, making incredibly innovative pieces, there are other artists that are making people speculate if they are popular for their talent or for something else. This is where the idea of dancing or “pretty privilege” has a role in artistry. There has been speculation that this is the reason for many artists’ success in music – but it is much more than just that. It’s also a mix of connections, other talents (such as dancing) and ultimately, extremely smart marketing, which includes social media.
When talking about this, newly aspiring artists such as Tyla come to mind. The “Water” artist recently received backlash for asking her award presenters — Lil Nas X and Bailey — to hold her VMA award for “Best Afrobeats” because it was “too heavy for her to hold” according to People Magazine. Some fans and others took to TikTok to mock her as she received her award, claiming her to be “cocky” or not a “girl’s girl.” Of course, Tyla took to X to address the backlash. However, though this incident may have been small, she’s also been criticized for her interview on radio show “The Breakfast Club,” being accused of dodging questions and for her comment on saying she’s “Colored” instead of Black.
Though I don’t believe that these complaints can be detrimental to her career, who’s to say how comments like this might affect someone’s mental health and cause them to change? It’s happened to artists in the past, with some succumbing to deep depression and possibly loss of identity. David V. Andreone of Psychology Today says this about how music industries could help with the mental health of their artists, especially younger ones:
“The entertainment industry, and specifically the music industry, needs to enact systemic, policy-driven changes that introduce the presence of mental health therapists in virtually all situations and venues encountered by new artists. These shadows, if you will, can protect an artist, thereby protecting the asset the label has so dearly invested in.
“The ultimate thing that labels should value more than ever is the fans and the artists’ mental health. There will always be hateful comments, but massive backlash and questions from preventing the artist from expressing themselves can be detrimental more to the label than anything else, as well as losing those artists when they decide to become independent.”
Jasmine Stewart is a fourth-year Finance and Interdisciplinary Studies dual-major with a minor in Business Analytics. (NABJ’s Community service Chair) JS980538@wcupa.edu